LIT. 2000 Professor: Yousi Mazpule October 24, 2012
Paradela 1
Evelyn Paradela
Professor Mazpule
Lit 2000
24 October 2012 “A Hunger Artist ” R. Crumb’s story of “A Hunger Artist” depicts the story of an artist who practices starvation for no reason other than the fact that, “there are no foods that he enjoys eating”(Crumb 218). The author’s tone, style and use of words in this story captures the readers mind in such a way that one feels as though they are part of the story. In the beginning of the story the narrator lets us know right away what is societies take on what this “hunger artist” is doing. The narrator gives us the background information on the main character setting the tone for the story. The “hunger artist”, “After 40 days of doing this fasting spectacle, the audience would loose interest, it used to be a great show that audiences would even come to buy season tickets to witness this great event, however this artistry had diminished”(Crumb 211). The reader then has a clear understanding that this men’s feasting is not cared for and his hard work goes unnoticed. The tone is then changed to a more lively one as,” the town holds a great feast in honor of this men for having spent, “40 days” feasting. The reader feels happy for this poor men that at least they are recognizing some of his effort. The character’s point of view towards the hunger artist makes the reader think that this is a great man who has taken his job to the heart. The hunger artist is described as, “ a men who had lived in feasting for many years, honored by all the world, yet troubled in his soul, and deeply frustrated that they do not allow him to feast for more than 40 days”(Crumb 214). The usage of words here elevates this men and you somewhat feel connected to him due to Paradela 2 the fact that he is troubled and frustrated with not being able to get the attention he desires. The reader can connect to this because we all at some point or another have felt frustrated with the plans we had for our lives that were never fulfilled, the difference here is that this man never evolves from this frustration and thus it ultimately brings him to his death. The other characters view the hunger men as perhaps crazy; they let him know that they are not interested in his fasting. As the story unfolds the narrator makes the reader think like the spectators since they ask the men, “ why? Why do you do this? Why don’t you have a choice?”(Crumb 217). The usage of words, tone and setting (which is in a cage), make the reader wonder like the viewers, why is he doing this? Why live a life in a cage and starve yourself? The men simply answers to these spectators by saying:“because there are no foods I like” (Crumb 218). The artist eventually dies and this lovely new panther is brought to the cage. The tone of the story changes when the panther is brought to the cage. This animal is quite different from the “hunger artist” .The animal is full of “passion”, “the life force coming so passionately out of him that spectators could not keep away from looking at the magnificent animal” (Crumb 219). The young panther represented life and he seemed not interested in the fact that he was on a cage
